Disney Announces 2026 Food and Wine Festival Details

The dates may have changed, but the song remains the same. Disney just announced dates and details for the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Let’s bring you up to speed on this year’s event.

When Is This Year’s Food & Wine Festival?

Historically, as soon as the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival ended, Cast Members prepared for the next exhibition. A couple of years ago, EPCOT changed its approach as part of a larger Walt Disney World mandate.

So, when the Flower & Garden Festival ends on June 1st, the park will go without a festival for nearly three months. In its stead, Disney will celebrate the second Cool Kids’ Summer…or first if you’re an apostrophe zealot. We enjoyed the original Cool Kid Summer in 2025, and now we get another.

For this reason, Disney has delayed the 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival until after the school year begins. This appears to be Disney’s new strategy. Cool Kids’ Summer appeals to children, while Food & Wine is a decidedly more adult affair.

This year’s Food & Wine Festival starts on August 27th and will run through November 21st. In this way, it’ll echo 2025, when the event ended just before Thanksgiving. In 2026, Thanksgiving Day is November 26th. Basically, Food & Wine ends and then Thanksgiving Week begins. Soon afterward, the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays will presumably begin, but Disney hasn’t confirmed that yet.

For now, what we know is that we’re getting 86 days of Food & Wine this year. We’ll also enjoy a touch of overlap with Cool Kids’ Summer, which ends on September 8th. Parents of small children may deem the end of August as an ideal vacation time in 2026 for this reason.

(Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog)

What Can You Expect at Food & Wine?

While Flower & Garden is EPCOT’s oldest festival, we all know the truth. Food & Wine is the signature event on EPCOT’s annual festival calendar. As usual, it’ll be a big deal.

Most importantly, the Global Marketplaces will return, allowing park guests to sample all the tastiest flavors on display. Disney confirmed that three favorites will return. They are:

• “Street Corn-style Dumplings: Chicken Dumplings with Tomatillo Salsa Verde, Street Corn Salad, Cotija, Lime Crema, and Cilantro (Gyozas of the Galaxy) 
• Grilled Bushberry-spiced Shrimp Skewer with Sweet-and-Sour Vegetables and Coconut-Chilie Sauce (Australia) 
• Kirschwasser Torte with Cherry-Brandy Buttercream, Fondant, Sugared Almonds, and Cherry Compote (The Alps)”

(Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog)

Disney adds that some of the Global Marketplaces will utilize “a phased opening,” meaning that not all of them will be available on August 27th. That’s no different than past years, but it’s important to keep in mind.

Emile’s Fromage Montage will also return, which is music to the ears of cheese aficionados. Similarly, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt. This popular quest makes a World Showcase visit feel even more interactive.

(Photo Credit: Disney Parks Blog)

We also know that the beloved Eat to the Beat! concert series will keep America Gardens Theatre rocking this fall. Disney hasn’t revealed this year’s lineup yet, though. Please stay tuned for that info. 

The other thing to remember is that Disney either recently opened or will open the following attractions and experiences:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Bluey’s Wild World
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – second mission with Baby Yoda
• Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets
• Soarin’ Across America
• The Walt Disney Studios 

And Disney just confirmed that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party begins on August 7th. So, you’ve got plenty of reasons to visit Disney World this fall.

Planning to visit EPCOT for the 2026 Food & Wine Festival? You can save up to 10% on Walt Disney World tickets through Unlocked Magic—be sure to check availability and lock in your savings.